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Boarders’ Parents’ Manual AMAZING BOARDERS’ PARENTS’ MANUAL INDEX Term dates Exeat dates Boarding House Contact Numbers Boarding House Postal Address Welcome / Introduction Boarding House staff Boarding House organisation Role of staff Telephone Times Direct Lines to Boarding House rooms General Behaviour Expectation of Students Mobile Phones Homework/Prep Bikes Church Computers Meal Times Dress and Clothing Electrical Appliances Forms Laundry Bus Multi Trips/Phone Cards and Mail Newspapers Pocket Money DVDs Visitors Damage to Boarding Facilities Medication/Health Care Travel in Private Vehicles Leave Policy Exeats/End of Term School Day Program Saturday / Sunday Program Security Cab Charge Homesickness Room Allocation Parents’ Committee Year Level Representatives What to Bring Insurance Wilderness School Medical Policy Boarders Medical Consent Forms Page
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TERM DATES 2014 TERM 1 TERM 2 TERM 3 New Boarders are due in on Monday 27 January Current Boarders return on Tuesday 28 January Wednesday 29 January – Friday 11 April Boarders return to the Boarding House the Monday (new) or Sunday (existing) prior to school starting. The Boarding House will open at 10.00am. If you need access earlier in the day please contact the Boarding House Office or Rosie Broderick 0411246514. TUESDAY 29 APRIL – FRIDAY 27 JUNE Boarders return to the Boarding House the Monday before school commences. WEDNESDAY 23 JULY – FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER Boarders will return on Tuesday 22 July as school classes resume on Wednesday TERM 4 MONDAY DAY 13 OCTOBER – WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER Boarders will return on Sunday 12 October. EXEAT DATES TERM 1 TERM 2 TERM 3 TERM 4 8-­‐10 March (10 March Adelaide Cup) 29-­‐30 March 18-­‐19 May 7-­‐9June (Queen’s Birthday) 9-­‐10 August 7-­‐ 8 September 1-­‐2 November 22-­‐23 November BOARDING HOUSE OFFICE CONTACT NUMBERS Boarding House Reception telephone Boarding House Reception facsimile Head of Boarding -­‐ Rosie Broderick All hours -­‐ Rosie Broderick Annex 83422198 POSTAL ADDRESS c/-­‐ Wilderness School Boarding House PO BOX 93 Walkerville SA 5081 8344 7670 8344 8003 8343 1071 0411 246 514 WELCOME Sending your daughter/s to Boarding School isn't an easy decision; it requires adjustment for you and your daughter/s. Boarding will be a challenging experience for your daughter as she leaves the familiarity of home and moves to a more communal style of living. It will not always be easy but the gains to be made are enormous. Boarding provides a unique opportunity for your daughter to achieve her potential. She will be part of a close community, which will help her to develop independence, self-­‐confidence and tolerance for others. While the academic life of the School is a key focus for your daughter, the boarding philosophy at ‘Wildy’ also strives to foster independence while responding to the individual needs, gifts and talents of each girl. Her time in the Boarding House will provide her with choices about how she spends her time and what activities she pursues so that she can determine her own experiences at school and grow as a person, not just academically. This process of growth in independence, meeting new people and pursuing her interests is often fun and very rewarding. The primary concern of the staff is to provide your daughter(s) with a safe and happy environment that represents, as closely as possible, a home environment. At the same time, living with a large group of girls is not the same as living with siblings. Boarding is a unique and unforgettable experience – overwhelmingly positive but not without its challenges. When your daughter first arrives at Wilderness as a boarding student she will be entering a new phase of her life and initially she will be operating outside her comfort zone. She will need to deal with a new school, a new ‘shared’ home environment, new carers and she will inevitably experience concerns about establishing friendships. It is only natural that she will feel uncomfortable but this feeling will pass. It takes different lengths of time for different girls. Even returning boarders need to go through a readjustment phase each time they return from a long break. Life in the Boarding House complements the broad principles of Wilderness School. At Wilderness we aim to provide the best education possible for each girl so she reaches her potential and is prepared for the multitude of challenges and opportunities which life will present. Boarding House life encourages high standards and provides a positive environment for academic studies. There are also varied opportunities to participate in sport and many other co-­‐curricular activities. The Boarding House staff and current boarders look forward to welcoming the new boarders and their families into our community. We are confident you will find your association with Wilderness and the Boarding House a rewarding and enjoyable experience. INTRODUCTION The Boarding House at Wilderness offers care and accommodation for up to 85 girls. The communal nature of boarding life necessitates the establishment of certain rules and procedures to ensure the provision of the best care possible for the girls in our charge and the smooth operation of the household. Curfews and rules will be part of life at any boarding house. Any community needs to establish common rules and expectations to achieve its collective aim. In the Wilderness boarding community we attempt to keep the rules to a minimum. However, we are very conscious of our duty to care for the girls and have given careful consideration to the regulations and procedures that operate in the Boarding House. Because of the legal duty of care responsibilities boarders will face some restrictions to their leave and it is expected that the girls respect these and that parents support the School’s decision. There are times when a boarder will need to accept the word ‘no’. All rules are in place for a reason and these are reviewed regularly to ensure the safety, well-­‐being and happiness of each girl in our care. Whilst it is necessary to have common guidelines we make every attempt to be flexible to accommodate the individuality of each girl. We aim to be fair, firm and consistent in addressing inappropriate behaviour. Sometimes adolescents learn most when they make a mistake and are given a chance to learn from that. So “second” and even “third” chances are not uncommon. Just as at home, some actions will require a disciplinary response, and parents will be informed immediately of serious breaches of guidelines and may be involved in the process of deciding an appropriate consequence. It is our experience that, once the girls are used to the way in which the Boarding House functions, adherence to the guidelines is not generally a problem. The overarching aim of the Boarding House is to provide a secure and caring environment in which the girls will grow and develop academically, socially, physically and morally. This is based on three important interrelated principles: • Co-­‐operation • Responsible leadership and positive interactions with others • Respect and acceptance of others’ differences Like any home, a sense of co-­‐operation comes from shared aims, a concern for others and a sense of solidarity. This co-­‐operation extends to areas such as assisting in running socials, taking part in House events (Athletics etc), duties, helping another boarder with home work and ensuring rooms are clean and tidy. As a member of the boarding community, each student is expected to adhere to high standards of behaviour that reflect responsibility to and care for others, oneself and the environment. A major aim of Wilderness Boarding is to produce self-­‐respecting, successful, independent and responsible young people who are equipped to enter the next stage of their lives. To achieve this aim there will be an emphasis on the boarders gradually accepting responsibility as they progress in the Boarding House and assume informal and formal leadership positions. In the boarding community there will be a wide variety of people of varying backgrounds, personalities and values. To ensure a harmonious, happy and successful community each boarder will need to be tolerant of others. Girls are encouraged to treat everybody with respect. Unacceptable behaviour such as teasing, bullying or any form of discrimination will not be tolerated. Respect should be shown to all property. Any damage resulting from deliberate or thoughtless actions may incur a damage fee. Clear consequences for students who do not adhere to the code of behaviour are outlined in detail in the School’s Behaviour Management Policy. The healthy development of your daughter will proceed most successfully when we work as a true partnership in her best interests. This requires close communication and frequent contact. It is important that you contact the Head of Boarding, Rosie Broderick, at any time if you have concerns of any nature in relation to the happiness of your daughter. Mrs Broderick can be contacted on 83431071 or 0410 246 514 or 8271 1864 (home) or on the School contact numbers. HEAD OF BOARDING SENIOR STAFF TUTOR/SUPERVISORS Rosie Broderick rbroderick@wilderness.com.au (08) 8271 1864 (Home) O411 246 514 (Mobile) (08) 8343 1071 (Boarding House Office) Mary Evans Sandy Nolan Sue O’Kelly Jillian Ergec HEALTH CENTRE Registered Nurse Annabel Heyward Jess Powell Natalie Webb Tara Rowhani-­‐Farid LucyMacLeod Jill Ahmed BOARDING HOUSE Olivia Stoeckel CATERING STAFF Kira Bayliss Jessica Olds Karen & Bobby Nilsson Kulwinder Kaur BOARDING HOUSE ORGANISATION The Boarding House is composed of three sections, all linked by connecting corridors. Mary Home House is disposed as the office, visitors’ lounge, kitchen, dining area, music practice rooms and co-­‐educational recreational room linked to an outside-­‐decked area. Rankine House consists of shared bedrooms in the original building with extensions currently incorporating communal lounges and single room accommodation. The catacombs apartment provides accommodation for 2 students. In addition, female staff members are on passive “sleepover” duty every night. Number 23 House has a combination of double and single bedrooms. The annexe house is directly opposite the school gates on Hawkers Road and houses 8 students in shared bedrooms. They have a house guardian in attendance. ROLE OF STAFF Head of Boarding The Head of Boarding has overall responsibility for the co-­‐ordination of all Boarding House matters and the leadership of all staff. This includes: § the care and guidance of boarders including discipline. The overarching aim is to create a nurturing and not a punitive environment for all boarding students. § the establishment of appropriate policies and practices. § liaising with boarders’ parents to ensure the best care for each boarder in relation to her medical, social, emotional and physical well-­‐being. The Head of Boarding in conjunction with all boarding staff and students strives to develop a house spirit and character that is friendly, supportive and recognises the worth of each student as an individual, creating a sense of belonging in all members of the House. Deputy Head of Boarding and Senior Supervisors The Senior Supervisor is responsible for: § day to day management of the girls and the daily supervision of the girls and the respective staff. § the welfare of the students, on a day-­‐to-­‐day basis. § in the absence of the Head of Boarding she communicates directly with parents regarding domestic and exeat arrangements and any matters relating to the boarding aspect of the girls’ school lives. Tutor Supervisors The Tutor Supervisors : § undertake duty shifts in their particular boarding area. § attend and supervise other boarding functions. § are responsible for the general care, guidance and discipline of all the boarders and the general running of their boarding area while on duty. § ensure security checks occur regularly. § provide academic support to the girls. § develop in conjunction with the other boarding staff and students, a house spirit and character which is friendly, supportive and recognises the worth of each student as an individual and creates a sense of belonging in all members of the House. Chefs §
The Chefs prepare some healthy meals but also take an interest in the girls’ general well being and communicate any concerns they have to the Head of Boarding or Senior Supervisor. Health Centre Registered Nurse A Health Centre Officer is on duty every weekday. It is important that your daughter’s health details and permission to medicate are up to date. Please refer to our medical guidelines for details of our Medical Policy (pages 24-­‐25) and complete the medical forms as well as the permission to administer medications before your daughter arrives at the Boarding House. A senior residential staff member is on duty each night. All senior staff and tutors hold a Senior Certificate in First Aid. Parents can contact the nurse on 8344 6688 during School hours. Boarders are to place all medication in the Reception area unless arranged otherwise. The Registered Nurse attends to the medical needs of the girls and provides home nursing first aid during the day. The Registered Nurse will be available at 8.30am each school morning to assess boarders who are unwell or need to have an appointment made for them. She will make appointments and travel arrangements for girls and where necessary arrange to have the student accompanied by an adult to her appointment. A locum service is accessed after hours and there is a staff member on duty after hours if girls require medical help during the night. It is recommended that you ensure you have ambulance cover. If your daughter is unable to attend School due to illness or injury, and the recovery period is relatively short, she will stay in the Health Centre under the care of the School nurse or with permission remain in her room in the Boarding House. If the recovery period is likely to be for an extended time or the illness is highly contagious, parents may be contacted to arrange for their daughter to return home or to another appropriate location to recuperate. In such circumstances the Head of Boarding, nurse or Senior Supervisor will contact parents. GENERAL INFORMATION and ROUTINES Telephone Times If you need to telephone your daughter the most convenient times are: Weekdays: Monday – Friday 3.30pm – 6.00pm 8.30pm – 10.00pm Urgent calls will be received at any time through the Boarding House Office ~ (08) 8344 7670 or Head of Boarding ~ (08) 8434 1071 / 0411 246 514 / (08) 8271 1864 (home) Dinner is at 5.50 – 6.30pm so the Office will not always be attended to take phone calls at this time. Mobile phones are not permitted in the dining room at meal times so please refrain from calling your daughter between 5.50 and 6.30 pm Weekends: Anytime except during meal times, which are: Lunch 12 noon to 12.30pm Dinner 6.00pm – 6.30pm DIRECT LINES TO VARIOUS BOARDING HOUSE ROOMS The following phone numbers are to be used to contact girls who are residents of: Upper North Wing 8344 5573 Upper South Wing 8344 1292 Rankine and Lower North Wing (by stairs) 8344 1241 Rankine and Lower South Wing (Common Room) 8344 5600 Number 23 8343 1049 Kitchen 8344 1220 GENERAL BEHAVIOUR Students are encouraged to become responsible members of the Boarding community, showing consideration for others and doing all in their power to help the house run harmoniously. Rules are kept to a minimum and these are based on the expectation of responsible behaviour by all members of the House. Students are expected to treat each other and staff as they would like to be treated. Normal good manners are expected: ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ are expected. Bad language is not acceptable and a constructive attitude towards the rules and routines is expected. Truthfulness and honesty are highly respected qualities. Expectations of students Students are asked to use appropriate language. Swearing lowers the tone of the Boarding House and is offensive to many people. The Wilderness School Drug Policy opposes the inappropriate use of legal substances and the possession and use of prohibited substances. This policy applies to Boarders while in residence and on leave. Smoking and the consumption of alcohol or other drugs are not permitted. No student may be in possession of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs while associated with the School. These are considered serious breaches of our trust. MOBILE PHONES Wilderness has adopted a mobile phone policy and as part of that policy mobile phones are permitted in the Boarding House and are considered to enhance the safety of the girls. The girls will be given staff contact numbers to place in their phones. However, while we recognise mobile phones can improve the communication between you and your daughter, they could also paradoxically increase and intensify the feeling of homesickness, particularly for younger girls. Conditions of Use §
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Boarders bring mobile phones to the Boarding House at their own risk. The School accepts no liability in the event of loss or damage to the mobile phone. Parents should organise their own insurance policy. Girls must give their mobile number to the Head of Boarding. Mobile phones must at all times be used discreetly and should not impose on other boarders. Parents are requested to advise their daughters to consider others when using the phone. Mobile phones must be switched off during all communal activities: e.g. meals, study periods and after lights out. § Mobile phones should not be used by other students Inappropriate use of a mobile phone will result in the withdrawal of permission to use the mobile phone for a defined period of time. Repeated breaches will result in the student not having permission to have a mobile phone. HOMEWORK/PREP Year 10 to 12 girls do their homework in their rooms from 6.30 to 8.30pm Monday to Thursday. If they want to work in another area of the house they must seek permission. A staff member supervises the House during prep and a quiet working environment is expected. Help may be sought from the tutoring staff on duty. At times it may be necessary for girls to work together during prep time. This may be negotiated with the staff. Junior Boarders (Years 7 to 9) do one hour of supervised homework and a half hour of supervised viewing of a news or current affair program. Girls who have a heavy homework load will need to attend both or work beyond the supervised time to complete their assignments. Girls in single rooms may work later. Access to the music practise rooms is rostered throughout the afternoon and evening. During study time there should be no recreational TV, social telephone calls or visitors. Junior Each Year 8 and 9 girl must attend both the TV viewing of current affairs and 1 hour of prep. Senior Years 10 and 11 Year 12 determine when they finish on an individual basis 7.00pm to 7.30pm news viewing 7.30pm to 8.30pm 6.30-­‐ 8.30pm (or later if needed) It is expected that the House is quiet after 9.30pm each evening including weekends so girls may study or go to bed early. Gatherings on the weekends should be in communal areas, not in bedrooms. This is to ensure a reasonable balance between opportunities for relaxation and the need to establish quiet places for people to study and rest. BIKES At Wilderness we try to make boarding as similar to a home environment as possible and consequently bikes are permitted. However, busy arterial roads surround Wilderness and in order to ensure the safety of all girls the following conditions apply. Parents should arrange their own insurance, as the school does not carry insurance on students’ personal property. Conditions of Use §
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Girls must wear a helmet and obey all road rules. Within the School they may only ride within permitted areas. Outside the School they should, whenever possible, only use minor roads and bike paths. Bikes should only be used at night with permission from staff. Such permission would be given only in very special circumstances. Bikes should not be used by other students WITHOUT PERMISSION. §
A breach of any of the above conditions will result in the withdrawal of permission to use the bike for at least one week. Repeated breaches will result in the bike being sent home permanently. CHURCH Wilderness fosters spirituality and is a Christian School independent of particular denominational affiliation. Students who wish to practice their faith on a regular basis are encouraged to do so and the staff will facilitate this. Please discuss your wishes in regard to this matter with the Head of Boarding. This will be arranged by the Boarding House. Wilderness also accommodates the cultural and religious beliefs of girls practising any other faith. COMPUTERS The Boarding House has wireless internet connection so girls are able to access the internet and intranet from all areas of the House. The Digital Technologies Policy applies to boarders at all times. Social networking sites and internet are shut down at various times to encourage a healthy routine for study and sleep. MEAL TIMES Unless engaged in School or sporting commitments or on leave, all Boarders are expected to come to the dining room for the evening meal. Boarders must arrive at dinner promptly so announcements can be made before the meal is served. The Boarding House provides a nutritious and varied menu, and all efforts are made to accommodate specific dietary requirements (vegetarian food is provided). Breakfast: A range of cereals, toast and fruit are available. Recess: A snack is provided by the kitchen. In addition, fruit is always available for students. Lunch: Prepared by students from a selection of ingredients. Hot meals are provided during the winter Terms. Afternoon Tea: Fruit is always available for an after-­‐school snack and cakes, biscuits, cheese platters etc. are provided by the kitchen staff. Dinner: Dinner consists of a main course and dessert, or soup and main course (students have some opportunity to suggest menu items). Supper: A light snack is provided. DRESS AND CLOTHING For Leave Smart casual dress is required. Girls must not go to local shops or the city in sports uniform. If girls leave the Boarding House in uniform it must be full uniform. For Meals Meals are eaten in the dining room. Dress for the evening meal is School uniform or informal and neat casual clothes. Occasionally there are special functions; in particular a birthday tea each Term. These tend to be either semi-­‐formal or themed dress up. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES Girls may bring with them an ipod dock/ hair dryer/straightener, and lap top, provided they are not used too loudly or at inappropriate times. However, for safety reasons, electric blankets, radiators, personal electric fans and kettles are not permitted. Air conditioners or ceiling fans are installed in each room. All electrical goods, cameras, watches etc should be engraved with your daughter’s name. Please note: candles must not be used in the Boarding House. FORMS In order to have the information we need to care for your daughter and to ensure her welfare at all times, there are several forms that must be completed. WHEN ENTERING THE BOARDING HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME THE FOLLOWING FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED. § Driver Permission Form § Medical Record Sheet § Personal Data Form Information should also be updated on a regular basis by current families. LAUNDRY Each girl is required to have a personal laundry bag and laundry baskets are provided in the laundry. All clothes need to be marked with the girl’s name. Girls are responsible for their own laundry and are encouraged to hang clothes onto the lines rather than use the driers when the weather is fine as a matter of respect for energy consumption and the environment. Please note our machines are front loaders and appropriate powder should be used. Sheets must be changed every Sunday and put into the laundry bag ready for the linen service collection. If you wish to have your daughter’s washing done for her, please contact the Boarding House office and this can be arranged. A fee of $10 per week applies. NEWSPAPERS A newspaper is delivered each day to the Boarding House office. POCKET MONEY The most convenient way to manage spending money is to open a key card account and put money into it as required. This way the girls do not have a lot of cash at any time. DVD’s/FOXTEL If Boarding House DVDs are borrowed, it is the responsibility of the girl signing it out to ensure it is returned. They will be charged for DVDs not returned. The Boarding House subscribes to Foxtel funded from the recreation allowance. Movies can be ordered through our Foxtel box office. VISITORS Parents may visit at any convenient time and similar policies apply for visits by grandparents and other relatives. All visitors are asked to contact the staff member on duty upon arrival as a security precaution. Male visitors are not permitted into the bedroom areas except for return days and holiday exeats and are restricted to the lounge, dining or outside BBQ area. DAMAGE TO BOARDING FACILITIES Damage incurred by girls where undue care or irresponsible behaviour is involved will result in an appropriate repair charge being added to your school account. MEDICATION/HEALTH CARE Generally, all prescription medication is administered under the care of the Health Officer or Supervising staff. Students are not allowed to have any tablets, capsules or mixtures in the Boarding House unless the doctor has recommended that they be kept at hand. The Boarding House staff must be made aware of this and the nurse has agreed to them self medicating. Asthmatic relief sprays, for instance, come into this category. A First Aid Cabinet is in the Health Centre and the Boarding House office for Panadol, antiseptics, band-­‐aids, etc. The School covers the cost of all first aid needs. Personal medication or other special personal supplies not supplied by the School will be charged to your account. Parents or girls should, upon arrival, hand in all prescription medication with written information to the Health Officer and alert the Head of Boarding to any major medical conditions. It is imperative that action plans are provided for ongoing medical conditions that require medications not normally dispensed. Please review our school medical policy. TRAVEL IN PRIVATE VEHICLES Parents are asked to provide specific documentation if they do not agree to allow their daughter to be driven by Boarding House staff or School staff, and school parents for sporting or other School activities. This includes coaches employed by the School. If no written request is received disallowing this it is assumed that parents have consented. Year 12 students can apply in writing to the Principal to have access to a private vehicle. Each case will be assessed and conditions of use apply. Keys must be left at the Boarding House office when the car is not in use. Under exceptional circumstances Year 11 girls may apply to have accessed to a car. Very strict conditions apply to a Year 11 driver. Cars may not be stored on the school premises. Girls may not travel with other students until the appropriate school and Boarding House forms have been completed. These forms require the signature of all girls’ parents, passengers and drivers. Boarders are not permitted to be driven by a P plate driver, subject to these exceptions: §
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With expressed written permission of parents. (Parents should complete a Boarder Driving list form and/or fax permission). LEAVE POLICY Boarders may be granted leave from the Boarding House, provided it does not impose upon their academic commitments. Leave will not be approved if your daughter has behaved inappropriately. A condition of leave, even when approved by parents, is that a boarder complies with the behavioural expectations of the school. Younger girls and new boarders are allowed shopping leave in small groups under the care of an older girl, until they are familiar with the various shopping locations. Leave should be arranged to avoid conflict with the normal daily routine of the Boarding House. Girls planning leave on Saturday morning must consider sporting commitments. When a student is invited to visit friends or relatives of a family not on the host list, it is necessary for either the host or the girl’s parents to phone or fax and confirm the proposed arrangements with the Head of Boarding. Parents will also need to approve the leave. All girls leaving the Boarding House at any time must record their movements on the biometric leave system. Overnight leave and weekend day leave must be applied for using the computerised leave system. It must be pre-­‐approved by the Senior Supervisor or Head of Boarding. We believe parents should be aware who their daughters are mixing with and what activities they are involved in during their recreational time, therefore overnight leave applications are emailed to the parents for approval each time a request for leave is made. The form provides information regarding the details of leave with the host family. Please do not agree to leave if your daughter has not provided a full description of her planned activities. Duties and Responsibilities of Hosts The school strongly encourages you to contact the host family as a way of developing connections with the parent community of the School and to thank those families who have offered their hospitality to your daughter. The school also recommends you check the nature of the activities your daughter will be involved in and the level of supervision the host family is providing to your daughter. The Boarding House does not undertake Police checks on host families. Hosts take on the responsibility of the parents of a boarder with the consent of the boarder’s parents. Hosts therefore need to be of sufficient maturity and experience. Wilderness Boarding House leave guidelines recommend a minimum age of 21 years. The Boarding House requires your written consent for overnight leave. The Duty of Care infers the following responsibilities on a host. §
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Adequate supervision of the boarder at all times Ensuring that a boarder in their care returns to the boarding house at the stipulated return time or communicates the change of plans to the office staff. Ensures the boarder’s behaviour is law abiding and in adherence to the behavioural expectations of the school. Accountability for any avoidable or deliberate harm to a boarder in their care Not permit a boarder to travel in a car driven by non-­‐ approved drivers. Wilderness Boarding School does not recommend for boarders to be hosted overnight by anyone under the age of 21. Leave with siblings under 21 – Requests for outings with older brothers and sisters (under the recommended age of 21) will be negotiated on an individual basis with the Head of Boarding. Overnight leave, if approved, with older siblings is restricted to the sibling boarder and will not be granted to other boarders. There maybe occasions where leave is not approved even if parents have provided their permission. The principle behind the approval of leave is to ensure parents have given informed consent. Procedure: § Each girl must notify the Boarding House office of any planned weekend outing by Thursday 8.30am (preferably by Wednesday 7.30pm). § Girls apply for leave using the on-­‐line leave application. If the leave includes an overnight absence from the Boarding House, an email with all the details is automatically sent to the parents. After reviewing the details of their daughter’s leave request they sign and return by fax (08 8344 8003) to the Boarding House office. Parents can decline or modify the details and there may be consultation with Boarding House staff in respect to leave requests. Where parents do not possess a fax machine a response by return email is accepted as permission granted. Verbal approval may also be accepted in some circumstances. Our preference is for a signed approval. § It is important for security reasons that a member of staff sights the person collecting your daughter. § Visitors are to be introduced to staff before proceeding to move through the house. Girls are not permitted to answer the front door. Sometimes it is very busy and staff may be on the phone, so there may be a short delay in responding to the door bell. § Where possible, girls should be collected and returned to the school by an adult. § After school on Friday girls may go to the city by signing out on the general town list. § All girls are expected to be home by 5.45pm for dinner after a Friday city visit. The School is concerned at the manner in which some student parties have been known to proceed. The consumption of alcohol and other drugs and the use of cars in association with such events cannot be condoned. The Senior Supervisor, in consultation with the Head of Boarding and relevant staff, will review invitations to large parties to assess what effective supervision will be in place. If there are serious doubts about the safety of the arrangements in place, we may recommend to parents they do not agree to the leave and the staff will support this or the parents themselves. §
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Short term leave during the week is approved on a daily basis Weekend and overnight leave requires the completion of a leave form. It is the parents’ responsibility to contact the hosts to ensure they are aware of the arrangements. Weekend leave will be reviewed and approved by the Senior Supervisor or Head of Boarding. Overnight leave requests will be emailed to parents for approval. All leave arrangements must be organised by students. However, staff are happy to assist with cab bookings, cab charges etc. § Girls are expected to check out and in through the Boarding House Office using the Biometrics system. In all cases a Duty Person must approve leave. The onus is on the students to get the approval. Even in a family environment it is an expected courtesy for children to communicate their plans. This is even more important in a boarding environment for safety reasons. Junior boarders need to arrange leave in groups of 2 or more, not by themselves, unless approved by supervising staff on behalf of parents. Where possible, leave should not cut across meal times or prep times. Ideally if taking leave after school Monday – Friday girls must not return after 5:00pm if they are attending first prep. Friday visits to town will not be approved for girls who have not complied with Boarding House routines. As not every leave possibility can be described in this booklet, other leave arrangements may be permitted at the discretion of the Head of Boarding upon consultation with parents where possible. Sometimes leave will be restricted or denied if a student has behaved inappropriately. The electronic leave system alerts staff when a student is more than half an hour overdue. EXEATS/END OF TERM Details of leave and travel arrangements should be finalised by Wednesday evening prior to the exeat, earlier if possible. Parents will be emailed details of the exeat leave for confirmation of the details. While missing school days before and after exeat weekends is not encouraged, the Day School and Boarding House acknowledge the difficulties experienced if travelling long distances. Any anticipated early departures must be negotiated through the appropriate Head of School in the Day School and the Boarding House should be informed of the details. Departure from and return to the Boarding House Girls are expected to sign out and in through the Boarding House office. Visitors are to be introduced to staff before proceeding to move through the house. Staff will decide whether it is appropriate for visitors to be in the house. Girls are not permitted to answer the front door. Sometimes it is very busy and staff may be on the phone so there may be a short delay in responding to the door bell. Outings during the week Girls may go to the local shops or the city during the week and club sport matches but shopping visits should be minimised. Exeats These are weekends on which students leave the Boarding House to go home or stay with friends. They provide an important break from the regimen of boarding life. Generally boarders are expected to leave by 7.00pm on the final day of school preceding the exeat weekend and return after 5.00pm on the day they are due back. If an evening meal is provided on the Sunday night there is an additional charge and this service is only available if the house has been open over the exeat. Boarders staying in the Boarding House are charged $50 per day to cover staff and meal costs. This option is only available if the House is open for international students. Students may leave any time after 3.30pm. In special circumstances, parents may request an early departure from the Head of Boarding and Head of the relevant Day School. It is our firm recommendation that where ever possible minimal school hours are missed. If the House is closed fro an exeat international boarders are accommodated in Home stay arranged by Australian Homestay National. International students may choose to remain in the Boarding House for term breaks, during which time they will be fully supervised and a range of activities will be available. Beginning of the Year New boarders arrive at the Boarding House by mid-­‐morning two days prior to the commencement of school for an orientation program. Returning Boarders should aim to arrive by lunchtime on the Tuesday in 2009. Lunch is provided for all boarders and their parents in the cafe, commencing at 12.30pm. All boarders should be checked in by 5.00pm at the latest. If there are any difficulties with transport times please notify the School Office on 8344 6688 or Head of Boarding on 0411 246 514. Returning to the Boarding House at the beginning of each Term The Boarding House is open from 11.30am to receive boarders. All boarders are to be in by 5.00pm on this day. If there are problems with transport please advise the Boarding House Office on 8344 7670. Boarders may go out during the day once they have checked in but must return by 5.00pm. It is expected that boarders will stay home on the first night of term in order to organise themselves for school the next day. Packing for the End of the Year This is done progressively over the last weeks of term. Boarders will be provided with final arrangements for leaving the Boarding House during Term 4 to accommodate the boarders’ attendance at the official functions that mark the close of the Day School. Boarders who need to travel a long way may leave some of their belongings in sealed and labelled boxes over the Christmas break. This needs to be negotiated with the Head of Boarding in advance as space is limited. The school takes no responsibility for items left on the premises. Departure at the End of Term Generally boarders are expected to organise their travel arrangements so that they do not miss any school time. The school realises that this is not always possible. If missing school is unavoidable, permission to be absent may be requested from the appropriate Head of School -­‐ Mrs Ann Moxham, Head of the Senior School, (amoxham@wilderness.com.au); Ms Arnfield, Head of the Middle School (barnfield@wilderness.com.au) – contact the school office by telephone on (08) 8344 6688 or facsimile on (08) 8344 1094. If students cannot attend a compulsory school function such as Speech Night at the end of year then permission to be absent must be obtained from the Principal, Mrs Jane Danvers. This should be done in writing well in advance. At the end of Terms 1, 2 and 3 all boarders are to vacate the premises by 7.00pm At the end of year, Middle School boarders may depart after Middle School Presentation Night and parent dinner or earlier depending on the Day School Program. Senior School boarders who are going home after Speech Night must remove their luggage before Speech Night. Senior School boarders who need to stay in the Boarding House after Speech Night, because they are going home by public transport the next day, must negotiate this with the Head of Boarding by Wednesday of Week 7 so that staffing may be organised. SCHOOL DAY PROGRAM Mornings 6.30am to 8.20am §
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All boarders are responsible for getting themselves up, tidying their rooms, having breakfast and preparing for school. They may go for runs and sports practices etc early, however, no one is allowed to leave the house before 6.30am and they should check with the staff member on duty. A staff member is on duty from 6.30am. This person opens the gates, and does a wake-­‐up walk through the house, health centre tasks and supervises breakfast. It is not always possible for this person to be in the office or to hear the phone, so this may not be a good time to contact the office. All girls are to leave the house by 8.20am. Evening Program Weekdays 3.30pm to 5.50pm Monday to Thursday §
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Arrive home from school; afternoon tea available. Sport practices, housekeeping, exercise, free time, showers. Girls may go to the local shops if they have approval. 5.50pm to 6.30pm 6.30pm to 8.30pm 7.00pm to 8.30pm Dinner Senior Prep Junior Prep §
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No one is allowed to inter-­‐dorm visit during this time unless referenced via the tutoring staff. A prep book is kept to check attitude and attendance. If a boarder has special circumstances she is expected to demonstrate she has made up this time or will make up the time. After 8.35pm Senior girls may watch a TV program and then return to individual study. Students are expected to be settled and in bed asleep by the following times for the different year levels Year 7 Year 8/9 Year 10 Year /11/12 9.00pm 9.30pm 10.00-­‐10.00pm The house needs to be quiet by 10.40pm and staff finish active duty at 11.00pm FRIDAY night the house closes at 12.00pm for Seniors & 10.30pm for Juniors SATURDAY 6.30 am Gates opened 7.00-­‐8.00am Breakfast and preparation for sport commitments 12.00pm Lunch 6.00pm Dinner 10.00pm Years 7 to 9 All in bed and lights out 12.00am Years 10 to 12 In bed 12.30am Close of House SUNDAY 7.30 am 10.00 am 10.00 am 12:00 pm 6.00 pm 8.30 -­‐9.00 pm 9.00 pm 9.30 pm 10.00 pm 10.30 pm 11.00 pm Gates opened All girls are woken and up unless the staff member has been advised otherwise, having showers and breakfast. Tidy rooms and laundry if necessary Lunch Dinner Prepare for bed Year 7 Years 8 / 9 bed and lights out Year 10 prepare for bed Bedtime Year 10 and lights out Bedtime Years 11 / 12 Lock all back doors SECURITY Camera Surveillance -­‐the perimeter of the Boarding House has camera surveillance. Phones -­‐ There are protocols for students to follow when answering the phone so that nuisance calls may be stopped. If a person is unable to supply the full name of a student, girls have been instructed to hang up immediately. Doors -­‐ Girls are not permitted to answer the front door. Girls are not permitted to access or exit the house other than through the front door or via the back door during day light hours. All other doors are to be kept locked at all times. Blinds/curtains – Curtains and/or blinds are to be drawn at dusk to deter unwanted attention. CAB-­‐CHARGE Cab Charge is available for girls to access in order to limit the need for additional cash and these charges will be charged to your school fee account. If you do not want to make use of this service, please inform the Head of Boarding. Students are advised to have an account they can access cash from using an ATM card. HOMESICKNESS It is perfectly normal for a student living in completely new surroundings, and in a communal environment, to feel strange and miss home and her family. We think it is important for students to realise that they are likely to feel homesick from time to time, that it is quite normal and something they should acknowledge. It is important for parents to emphasise the benefits of involvement in and out of the classroom. Involvement in sport, music, drama and other activities is very beneficial and should be encouraged wherever possible. It also serves as a distraction from feelings of homesickness. In the early stages, while it is comforting to you as a parent to touch base with your daughter often, the contact with home can often accentuate feelings of homesickness. Often a student who is apparently coping quite well will suffer a set-­‐back after ringing home. Always try to end phone calls on a positive note. It is important for you to realise that you will hear of, or experience, the worst of your daughter’s homesickness. She will tend to contact you when she is feeling at her lowest. She may focus on the negative aspects. Try to encourage her to think positively. Poor grades and difficulty with work can be symptoms of homesickness in the early stages. Contacting the Head of House in the Day School is recommended if you believe her academic development is being compromised. The Head of House will work closely with you and your daughter’s teachers to assist her through this. A recurrence of the problem is quite common after exeat weekends or after term holidays. However, usually this is overcome very quickly on returning to school. Please encourage your daughter to see the Head of Boarding or a member of the staff if she is unhappy. It is our aim to help you and your daughter cope positively with the settling in period. Understanding, patience and firmness make for a quick and relatively smooth adjustment to the new environment. Above all please do not hesitate to contact the Head of Boarding if you wish to discuss any problems your daughter may face once she has joined our community. ROOM ALLOCATION With the exception of Year 12, boarders are relocated to either a new room or new room mate each Term. Year 12s are all allocated a single room and remain in the same room for the year. Moves are only made in special circumstances. Girls in other year levels change rooms or room-­‐mates at the end of each term. This is to encourage them to get to know all the girls in their year level. Depending on the Year 12 numbers, Year 11 students may have a single room for at least one term. Year 10 and some Year 11 girls have twin share bedrooms. Staff considers a range of factors when allocating rooms and room mates in the hope of fostering the most positive living environment and development of your daughter. Consideration is given to such factors as friendship, compatible study habits, supportive students with less confident girls and sport training commitments, particularly early morning schedules. It is not reasonable for girls to expect special privileges in regards to room allocations without reasonable justification and we do our best to ensure each girl gets fair consideration of all the circumstances that influence our room plan. If however, you have any concerns at any stage regarding room allocations, please contact the Head of Boarding to discuss your concerns as there may be issues you are aware of that the staff is not and vice versa. This is an area where we really appreciate your support, as the girls tend to be more accepting of the allocations if parents are not drawn into the discussion. Cleaners clean the houses each weekday. However girls are expected to tidy their rooms each day before school and before dinner on Sunday evening. Girls are expected to § Make their bed each day § Draw curtains, switch off AC units, lights etc § Hang clothes in wardrobes § Hang towels § Put dirty laundry in the laundry bag § Tidy the desk top. § Clear the floor of objects. § Change linen each Wednesday and take dirty linen to the laundry for collection by the linen service. PARENTS’ COMMITTEE The Boarders’ Parent’s Committee is an informal group of boarders’ parents who meet on the day boarders return to the Boarding House at the beginning of each term, to discuss any boarding issues and organise social occasions. We recognise that it is not possible for all families to attend each meeting; however, we would encourage you to be involved to whatever extent you can, to help in developing the Boarding Community and to assist in improving the communication between the parents, the Boarding House and the school. Boarders’ Parents Weekend will be planned for 2014. Information will be sent to all parents. YEAR LEVEL REPRESENTATIVES FOR 2014 A number of boarders’ parents have accepted the position of year level representative for 2013. Their role is to act as a conduit for information between parents, the Boarding House and the school and, in particular, to welcome new parents to the boarding community. Parents should feel free to approach the Year Level Representative if they have any questions, which might best be answered by another parent or have an issue or concern they do not wish to raise directly with the school. PARENT REPRESENTIVES Rachel & Luke Hampshire Kate and Nick Wadlow Fiona and Mick Dahlitz Sharyn and Charles Dolling Ros and Mitchell Anna and Bruce Stanley Sam Tiller 85887032 Rachel 0429350456 88942179 Kate 0427942179 86762050 Fiona 0428762059 86354314 Sharyn 0427718996 85531200 Ros 0427531200 Anna 0408393400 Sam Tiller 0409096434 Years 8 and 9 WHAT TO BRING In addition to casual clothing and personal toiletries, students require: §
Bath towel and face washers §
Pillow §
Doona §
Laundry bag §
Thongs for use in the shower and a second pair for footwear in the house §
Shoe cleaning kit (black shoe polish is essential). §
Washing powder for front loader machines – low suds §
Sporting equipment if involved in recreational activities §
Beach towel §
Desk Lamp §
Coat hangers §
Posters and photos for the pin up boards §
Blu-­‐tack §
4 x AA batteries §
Personal trinkets §
Radio/clock/CD player/hair dryer/camera (optional) Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 INSURANCE All uniforms and personal belongings should be labelled. Some insurance policies cover contents anywhere in Australia. You may wish to review your insurance policy to establish if your company covers personal contents in the Boarding House as the school does not cover the girls’ personal belongings. Boarding House reports will be prepared at the end of each Semester. WILDERNESS SCHOOL MEDICAL POLICY PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Wilderness School Safe Medication Policy These guidelines comply with the recommendations of the Department of Education Training and Employment, the Nurses Registration Board and the Controlled Substances Act 1984 and the Therapeutic Drug Act. Medical issues relating to day students will be referred to their parent or guardian. When a day student is unwell their parent/guardian will be contacted to make arrangements for them to be collected from school. The primary responsibility for the Boarders medical care is with the Head of Boarding and in her absence the Deputy Head of Boarding in consultation with the school’s Health Officer (a Registered Nurse) and/or General Practitioner. Wilderness School is a school that supports a minimum medication policy. The school policy follows a homely remedy protocol for the administration of non-­‐prescribed medications and a written protocol for the administration of certain S2 drugs and prescribed drugs. How can families help with safe medication management? Recommendations All parents are encouraged to administer medication outside of school hours. (Medication taken three times a day can be given before school after school and at bedtime) Boarders will follow this schedule and all medication and the time administered will be recorded. Informed Consent: It is important that parents and students recognise that even over the counter drugs have some risk and therefore it is imperative parents familiarise themselves with the possible reactions and side affects. Eg Nurofen is not recommended for asthmatics OR can produce severe allergic anaphylactic shock. Where possible gentler effective medications/remedies should be considered. Prescribed Medications A medication Plan completed by a Doctor must accompany all prescribed medications. Scheduled 4 drugs must be stored in a locked cupboard either in the Health Centre or the Boarding House Medical Storage Centre. Action Plans authorised by a doctor must be provided to the Health Centre and Boarding House Staff for any existing condition with directions for observation, preventative treatment and emergency response. Eg. Allergic reactions / Migraines / Asthma / Menstrual distress / Epilepsy / Diabetes Over the counter medication not held by the Health Centre must be supplied by the parent or guardian. The medication must be in the original container, labelled with the student’s name, recommended dose and written instructions from the parent/guardian. The school holds the following drugs for boarders use and parents must provide permission for these to be administered on the Medication Permission Advice Form. Any other medications required need to be supplied by the parents and named and in their original containers. S2 and S3 medications A range of S2 and S3 medications is available to boarders. General first aid creams and supplies will be maintained in the Health Centre. Self medication The common law duty of care does not extend to administering prescribed medication to the student who is reasonably able to self administer. However, the common law duty of care requires staff take reasonable steps to ensure that the self administration is carried out safely and documented. With the exception of oral contraceptives and in instances when for reason of confidentiality it is a recommendation of the School Policy that boarders store all medications in the Boarders locked medical cupboard. Boarding House staff should be made aware of students self medicating, this includes herbal or vitamin treatments as these can sometimes cause complications. The school requires families review their Private Health Cover to ensure Ambulance cover. Some policies cover emergency rating only and this is NOT considered adequate. Medical Providers Day students will be registered with their own general partitioner unless in an emergency. The Boarding House refers boarders to local practices with availability our prime concern. However any student has the right to request to see any doctor of their choice. Dentists that offer discounted rates to the boarders are also available, however, families are also free to chose their dental provider. Confidentiality Confidentiality of the student is respected. However, in providing medical and nursing care to a student, particularly boarding students, it is recognised in order to provide appropriate care certain medical information may need to be passed on to certain parties, ideally with the student’s prior consent. Day-­‐to-­‐
day medical information needed to care for boarders will be passed from the Health Officer to the Boarding House duty staff in a daily handover process.